Good Morning Humble Servants of the Lord! Are you either or both? Or are you like the Pharisees (white washed tombs) and those in the world and walking in darkness--prideful self-servers? I was trained to be proud by a proud father and expected to prosper from others as I lived to please self. That's all wrong! Jesus, the King of the Universe and Creator of all, humbled himself and stepped into man skin and even died on the cross for others. He washed His disciples feet and commanded they do likewise. Whose feet have you washed lately?
Karen and I along with Sarah and Mike were blessed to be recognized and prayed over during Pastor's Appreciation Month. This is a humbling, hard month for many pastors who are not appreciated nor recognized. Thank you all for your love and appreciation and thanks Kathy and Mike for spearheading this. You have no idea how blessed that makes us feel. Thank you all for being a pleasure to serve with. I'm always questioning if I am doing right by God and you. I'm always worried if I will have a job next year, especially with our budget deficits. It's one of the thorns in my flesh. Being affirmed and esteemed means a lot to me! But it can also lead to pride and self focus. I just want to be like Jesus and do the things He created me to do. Part of that is to be a servant leader. We are called to humble ourselves before God and allow Him to have His way with us and to lead us to His plans for us. He is always working all things together for those who love Him. Growing in trust and obedience and reliance on Him and not my prideful self is always the goal. It takes dying to self, taking up cross and following Him daily. Please pray for me to do that well, to lead well and to be a servant leader like Jesus as I am. And to be moldable and to trust Him always.
When I think about all of this, I think of the Pharisees and religious elite of Jesus' day. Man His anger against them showed as they failed to humble themselves and honor God, as they failed to accept that the Messiah was not going to be as they expected. They thought the Messiah would come and bless them for being so selfish, self-serving and prideful. Jesus, the Messiah, was not like them and He let them know it! His chosen leaders were all about themselves and didn't want to die to self nor follow Jesus. May that never be me nor us! Help us Lord to humble self, take up cross daily and follow Jesus into this day, into everyday. May we humble ourselves and follow His example always. Thank You for Sarah and Mike and all our leaders! Bless them and draw them close. Give us all teachable and moldable spirits. May we always seek You and listen and follow well. Lead us to you best and perfect plans and help us to steward well all Your blessings as we follow You and learn to lead as You desire and as You created and gifted us to do. Help us to live, love, teach, lead and make disciples like Jesus. Thanks! Thank You for gathering, gifting and sending us into the harvest. Help us all to do our parts as we shine Your light and incarnate Jesus and His ways. Your Kingdom come and will be done and may it come alive in, through and around me/us daily. Thanks! We love you Lord! Bring revival and bring the Jesus way alive. Amen!
One of my devotional verses was Ezekiel 34:1-6 where God tells Ezekiel to prophesy against the Shepherds and leaders and says what sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. May that never be me/us Lord! And another passage is Phil. 2:1-11 which teaches about Jesus' humbleness and our call to have the same attitude as Jesus and to be united in Him and His love as we work together in His Kingdom. May that be us Lord! Lead us to our parts that we get to do in Your Good news delivery Co. And bring revival and new life alive. Amen!
Phil. 2: 1-11 is from ODB below. What's God saying to you?
Have the Attitude of Christ
2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,[a]
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];
he took the humble position of a slave[c]
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,[d]
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
ODB:
Making Room for Others
In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
At electric vehicle charging stations across the United States, some drivers overstay their time at “fast-chargers,” which are designed to help drivers quickly charge their cars and get back on the road. To resolve this unkind behavior, one of the largest charging networks has implemented strict time limits at some of its busiest stations. When a vehicle’s battery charge reaches eighty-five percent, the driver must make room for the next car in need of a charge.
The apostle Paul encouraged believers in Jesus to humbly “value others above [themselves]” (Philippians 2:3). He addressed an issue that was grating the Philippian church—self-centeredness. The people desired recognition and distinction, not from pure motives but from “selfish ambition” (v. 3). Paul urged the believers to have the mind of Christ and to look “to the interests of the others” (v. 4). This didn’t mean that they should forget their own needs in an unhealthy way, but that they would care for others’ needs as those who “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (v. 5). The apostle encouraged the Philippians to empty themselves of pride and to humbly make room for others. The ultimate motivation for making room? Love.
As we seek to imitate Christ’s example each day (vv. 6-11), He can help us make room for others by viewing them with His loving eyes.
By Marvin Williams
REFLECT & PRAY
How can you place others’ needs above your own? What does it mean to see others through God’s eyes?
Dear God, please help me empty myself and make room for others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul’s teaching in Philippians 2:1-11 describes the core values that believers in Jesus are to exhibit. Christ exemplified these principles by becoming a man, living as a servant, and surrendering to death by crucifixion (vv. 7-8). Jesus’ example and teaching in John 13 amplify the need for believers to serve others. Hours before His crucifixion, John describes Christ having “a towel around his waist” (v. 4). Jesus ignored His status as their leader and washed the dusty feet of all present: “After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (v. 5). His actions were complemented with these words: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (v. 14). Christ calls us to imitate His example of love and humility and serve others.
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